What do you mean by that? Because I've seen a single ship here at LAX a zillion times when or Bush came in.

BN747

Topic: RE: Which Air Force ONE Is Being Used BY Obama TodayUsername: D L XPosted 2011-04-21 10:55:09 and read 8699 times.

Quoting BN747 (Reply 3):What do you mean by that? Because I've seen a single ship here at LAX a zillion times when or Bush came in.

Maybe it's only when he flies internationally, or maybe the other one was around but not parked at the same place. But according to the National Geographic special on Air Force One, both planes fly every mission, with one sort of blazing the trail for the other.

Topic: RE: Which Air Force ONE Is Being Used BY Obama TodayUsername: MPDPilotPosted 2011-04-21 10:57:37 and read 8683 times.

Quoting BN747 (Reply 3):What do you mean by that? Because I've seen a single ship here at LAX a zillion times when or Bush came in

The other aircraft might have been at March AFB or something but typically they do travel with two aircraft in case of maintenance issues with one. It is often said that Air Force One is the safest place for the POTUS to be so it is important that they always have one available for him to get on one at a moments notice.

Another fun fact, I am not sure if this is still the case but it has been the case that an E-4B always travels with POTUS in case of a nuclear war, as that is the command plane for that senario. So that means that anytime POTUS travels there is atleast a C-5 with his cars, and two or three 747s. That is quite a bit of hardware to fly for one person.

Topic: RE: Which Air Force ONE Is Being Used BY Obama TodayUsername: UAEflyerPosted 2011-04-21 10:57:54 and read 8683 times.

I do not believe this is true. Both VC fly on every overseas mission, but domestically I have seen different.

Last year AF1 arrived at SFO and had a mechanical issue. Overnight a C-32 was brought in as a back-up. The VC flying Obama was repaired overnight and left with no problems. But there was no sight of the other VC aircraft.

Topic: RE: Which Air Force ONE Is Being Used BY Obama TodayUsername: LAXintlPosted 2011-04-22 21:58:29 and read 7996 times.

28000 was at LAX today.

As far as back ups, I can tell you that during Clinton's presidency they had a mechanical issue here in LAX, and the 2nd aircraft arrived up from San Diego (Miramar I believe it was) overnight.

Also during the 90s, I recall one of the aircraft during an Australia visit suffered a bid strike, and returned a few days later on its own after an engine change via LAX.

Topic: RE: Which Air Force ONE Is Being Used BY Obama TodayUsername: FlightyPosted 2011-04-23 19:12:37 and read 7889 times.

Quoting LAXintl (Reply 11):Also during the 90s, I recall one of the aircraft during an Australia visit suffered a bid strike, and returned a few days later on its own after an engine change via LAX.

OMG, that is Saudi type excessive. But then again, it is the US military...

Topic: RE: Which Air Force ONE Is Being Used BY Obama TodayUsername: KC135TopBoomPosted 2011-04-25 11:49:52 and read 7673 times.

One VC-25A had a maintenance issue on a President Bush Asian trip, he went onto the next meeting using a C-32A as Air Force-1, arriving on-schedule for his meeting. IIRC, the issue with the VC-25 was a tire and brake issue, but they fly with these types of spare parts. It was repaired and President Bush used the VC-25A for his next leg on that trip.

Topic: RE: Which Air Force ONE Is Being Used BY Obama TodayUsername: LAXintlPosted 2011-04-25 19:36:10 and read 7588 times.